Lisa Murkowski, the Senior United States Senator from Alaska, made history today as the 3rd Republican U.S. Senator to publicly announce her support for marriage equality. Murkowski is considered a somewhat moderate member of her caucus, and is also the first Republican female Senator to endorse marriage equality. The other two Republican senators who support full marriage rights for same-sex couples are Mark Kirk of Illinois (2nd Republican Senator to do so) and Rob Portman of Ohio (first Republican to do so, in response to his son's coming out as gay). Here is an ...

There are more interesting results from the recent Pew Survey of nearly 1,200 LGBT Americans, this time about our religious beliefs. And the statistics seem to show that LGBT people are decidedly more godless than others (hurray!): When it comes to religion, the LGBT population has a distinctly different profile than the general public. Fewer LGBT adults have a religious affiliation. About half of LGBT respondents describe themselves as atheist, agnostic or having no particular religion (48%)─more than double the portion of the general public that is religiously unaffiliated (20%).  Like the U.S. general public, LGBT adults with a ...

With the addition of Tom Carper of Delaware, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) now sports the public support of 51 Senators, a clear majority of the United States Senate. However, in order to become law, the measure will almost certainly need to clear a Republican filibuster, so the real level of support necessary for passage of this key legislative priority is 60 votes. Astonishingly, ENDA has bipartisan support with moderate Republicans (Yes, Virginia, they do exist!) Mark Kirk of Illinois and Susan Collins of Maine supporting S. 815. However, there are still 5 members of the Democratic caucus who have ...

Venus Williams won the Wimbledon championships in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008 and reached the final 3 other times in 2002, 2003 and 2009 losing to her sister Serena Williams in all three appearances. However, her streak of 16 consecutive Wimbledons will come to an end this year because the 7-time major champion announced her withdrawal from this year's tournament earlier today on Facebook: Unfortunately, I will not be able to participate in Wimbledon this year. I am extremely disappointed as I have always loved The Championships, but I need to take time to let my back ...

The Pew Research Center recently conducted a survey of nearly 1200 LGBT individuals and published the results just in time for LGBT Pride Month. Some of the data is fascinating. Who knew that self-reported bisexuals were the plurality of the LGBT population (with nearly 3/4 of bisexuals being female)? The Pew survey summarizes the difference between the LGBT population and the non-LGBT Americans thusly: The survey finds that the LGBT population is distinctive in many ways beyond sexual orientation. Compared with the general public, Pew Research LGBT survey respondents are more liberal, more Democratic, less religious, less happy with ...

I'm up in Northern California this week. ...

Zenith Harvey is another hot man of color I found at David Dust's blog. Zenith first appeared on MadProfessah.com as Eye Candy on April 22, 2013. I think you can see why from these pictures! ...

Roger Federer won his 6th title in Halle, Germany by defeating Mikhail Youzhny for the 15th time 6-7(5) 6-3 6-4. It was Federer's first title of 2013, his first since winning the 2012 Cincinnati Masters over Novak Djokovic last August. It was the Swiss great's 77th ATP tour title and 904th career win. He lost his only other 2013 final appearance at the Rome Masters to Rafael Nadal in May. His career finals record is now 77-35. It was Federer's first win in Halle since 2008, having lost in the final last year ...

The Gaytterdämmerung case of Hollingsworth v Perry could be released by the United States Supreme Court as early as tomorrow but will probably not come out until next Monday or Thursday June 27 at the latest. The organization behind the federal challenge to California's Proposition 8 is the American Foundation for Equal Rights, or AFER.  With the final Decision Day in the Proposition 8 case coming soon, AFER has released a helpful and stirring video that explains how the case has reached this point, mentioning the two other Decision Days on the way (district court decision on August 4, ...

Rufus Gifford James Costos Two important fundraisers to the President's re-election campaign Rufus Gifford and James Costos, were named on Friday by the White House to be Ambassador to Denmark and Spain, respectively. James Costos, Nominee for Ambassador to Spain, Department of StateJames Costos is Vice President of Global Licensing and Retail for Home Box Office (HBO).  Before joining HBO in 2006, he was President and CEO of Eight Cylinders, Inc., an entertainment marketing and licensing agency.  Previously, from 2002 to 2004, he was head of Promotions and Consumer Products at Revolution Studios in California.  He began his career in New ...

Another poll confirms the existing super majority in favor of marriage equality nationwide, clocking in at 57%-40% supporting allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally. What is even more interesting is that the ABC/Washington Post poll also went on to ask whether same-sex couples should be given federal benefits and even larger group supported that: 63% to 34%. Of course, it is precisely this second question of providing federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples which is being considered by the United States Supreme Court in the Gaytterdämmerung case of United States v. Windsor. Currently law (the Defense of ...

Roger Federer recorded only the 2nd double bagel win of his career, his 902nd ATP Tour win, over Mischa Zverev, in 39 minutes and 29 seconds to reach the semifinals of the Gerry Wever Open in Halle, Germany. He will face Tommy Haas, who beat the 5-time champion here last year in the final. Haas dropped the first set to Gael Monfils in a tiebreak but then came back to win the quatrerfinal 6-7(4) 6-3 6-3. On the other side of the draw #2 seed Richard Gasquet will face the winner of Mikhail Youzhny and Phillip Kohlschreiber. Federer ...

This photo of Mariah Carey playing a slave working in the fields in openly gay director Lee Daniels' latest movie, The Butler, is causing a stir on Twitter and other social media online. Carey and Daniels have worked together before, in the Oscar-winning (and controversial) Precious, for example, where again Mariah played against her  image as a diva, to good reviews. The Butler is about the story of Eugene Allen, who was a butler in the White House serving 8 presidents of the United States. Actually, I am happy about the controversy because it alerted me to ...

By a voice vote, the United States Senate has unanimously confirmed the first (out!) lesbian of Hispanic heritage to a federal judgeship. Nitza Quiñones Alejandro will become a federal district court judge for the Eastern District of Pensuylvania when she is sworn in. She is the sixth openly LGBT judge to be confirmed by the United States Senate during the administration of President Barack Obama. The previous five Obama-nominated federal judges confirmed by the Senate are: J. Paul OetkenAli NathanMichael FitzgeraldPamela Ki Mai ChenMichael McShane Prior to the Obama administration there was one openly LGBT federal judge confirmed by ...

Watch the video of what happened at today's LGBT Pride reception at the White House. The transcript of the remarks by President Obama at the event are below: REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT A RECEPTION FOR LGBT PRIDE MONTH East Room 5:21 P.M. EDT      THE PRESIDENT:  All right, I will not beat that act.  (Laughter.)  We could not be prouder of Zea and Luna for the introduction.  And welcome, all of you, to the White House for Pride Month.  (Applause.) Zea and Luna are here with their moms, and also I think with Grandma and Grandpa -- correct?  And so feel free to congratulate them ...

Jase Bolger (R) is Speaker of the Michigan State House of Representatives What is it with Republicans and not understanding the basic ideas behind the words "equal treatment under the law" and "civil rights"? The latest GOP politician to stick his foot in his mouth by expressing his honest beliefs about these issues is one of the most powerful politicians in the great State of Michigan, Jase Bolger, the Republican Speaker of the State House of Representatives. Michigan has a law prohibiting discrimination in employment by private entities called the Elliott-Larsen act. It includes the ...

shrimp and grits (anson mill’s grits, vidalia onion, spinach, tasso ham, tomato, shellfish emulsion) jumbo lump crab cake (english peas, apricots, pancetta, scallions, sweet pepper butter) seared hudson valley foie gras  (lemon marmalade, candied pecans, parsnip butter, brioche, apricot ice cream) shenandoah lamb loin (surry lamb sausage, ramp spaetzle, king trumpet mushroom, strawberry jam, vadouvan jus) georgia pecan pie  (bourbon ice cream, praline lace crumble, caramel) interior of Vidalia My plan to sample the food at the best restaurants in the Washington, D.C. area continues with a stop at Vidalia. (I have previously been to Fiola, Blue Duck Tavern, ...